The Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 2013 by Neil and Maria Bush to promote literacy for children and adults in Houston, Texas. Former First Lady, Barbara Bush had a strong passion for reading and believed that everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, should have access to books and the opportunity to learn how to read. Her legacy inspires the foundation's mission to improve literacy rates and promote a love of reading.
The foundation will celebrate its tenth anniversary this year, a significant milestone marked by continuing to honor Mrs. Bush's legacy and launching a new website that will tell the foundation's story. "People will be able to hear stories and voices of students, adults, families, and community-based partners that we have been working with over the last decade to be able to raise literacy rates in Houston," says Julie Baker Finck, Ph.D., President of the Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation.
In addition to its tenth anniversary, the foundation will celebrate another important accomplishment through its My Home Library Program. The program, which anyone in the community can sponsor, provides thousands of children in low-income neighborhoods with their own books to keep and read at home. "We are on track to distribute our one-millionth book in December of this year," says Finck. "We feel like that will be the exclamation point on our ten-year anniversary celebration."
One of the foundation's signature events, the Celebration of Reading Gala, takes place annually in Houston and brings authors, celebrities, and supporters together to raise awareness and funds for literacy initiatives. Over nearly three decades, the event has raised millions of dollars and helped bring attention to the literacy issues in Houston. This year, Neil and Maria Bush are the keynote speakers and authors, including Isabel Wilkerson, Tom Papa, Tess Gerritsen, and Nelson DeMille will be in attendance.
Community engagement is a core tenant of the foundation. The foundation's women's auxiliary group, Ladies for Literacy, and a Young Professional Group volunteer and promote the foundation's literacy mission in the community. The foundation also partners with businesses and organizations to provide corporate volunteer opportunities and support for literacy initiatives.
The University of Houston and its Cougar Reading Tutors have joined the foundation to help children in five Third Ward schools improve their reading skills. Six years and 10,000 hours of tutoring have made a demonstrable difference in the reading levels of the participating children. According to Finck, four out of the five participating schools moved up in their Texas Education Agency accountability ratings.
Although the foundation has many programs for children, adults are also a large part of its programming. Many don't realize that one in three adults in Harris County is functionally illiterate. Because of that startling statistic, the Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation partnered with the Mayor's Office for Adult Literacy to create Houston's Literacy Blueprint in 2021. It is the first-ever city-wide plan to empower more adults with literacy skills.
"The foundation has really been a champion for elevating literacy in Houston. It has been incredible to see how the community has stepped up and recognized that literacy in our city is a problem, but they have also stepped up to be a part of the solution. I am proud of our work, but there is still quite a bit more work to do to realize Mrs. Bush's vision of literacy for all here in Houston."
"It has been incredible to see how the community has stepped up and recognized that literacy in our city is a problem, but they have also stepped up to be a part of the solution. I am proud of our work, but there is still quite a bit more work to do to realize Mrs. Bush's vision of literacy for all here in Houston," Julie Baker Finck, Ph.D., President of the Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation.